Enjoy Fremont Brewing! A Travel Guide to Craft Beer in Seattle – Perfect for the Seattle craft beer scene
Hello, I’m Riho, a Japanese craft beer enthusiast. This time, I’ll be introducing the appeal of “Fremont Brewing” in Seattle, its latest tap list, and my personal reviews of the beers I actually tried! If you love exploring Seattle breweries, Seattle microbreweries, or the broader Pacific Northwest breweries and PNW craft beer scene, this guide is for you.
Starting from this time, I’ve added tips in the article for Japanese visitors on how to order beer at the taproom! This is especially helpful if you’re planning Washington beer tours, brewery tours, or microbrewery tours around the city.
Tap List Menu
- Golden Pilsner: A classic pilsner. Light and smooth. Perfect for those who want something less hop-forward and more subtle.
- Sky Hazy Pale: A hazy pale ale with a fruity aroma. It’s a malty yet hoppy choice that showcases modern hazy styles.
- Blue Pale Ale: Exquisite balance between malt sweetness and hops.
- Lush IPA: A juicy IPA with an impressive tropical fruit aroma—ideal for “Best craft breweries in Seattle for IPA lovers.”
- Hustle DIPA: A double IPA with a higher alcohol content and firm bitterness. Great if you’re on a “Seattle brewery tour: top microbreweries to visit.”
- Interurban IPA: A classic West Coast IPA that’s both hop-forward and balanced.
- Dark Star: An oatmeal stout with a rich chocolate flavor—keep in mind if you’re wondering “Where to find barrel-aged stouts in Seattle” (they often have barrel-aged variants!).
- Winter Ale: A seasonal spiced winter ale. One of their seasonal releases that can sometimes be part of limited edition brews.
- NA Dark: A non-alcoholic dark beer.
- NA Orange Wit: A refreshing non-alcoholic beer with citrus flavors.
- Legend IPA: A full-bodied IPA featuring prominent citrus hops.
- Grapefruit IPA: An IPA with a refreshing grapefruit aroma and pleasant bitterness, perfect for a tasting flight.
- Head Full of Dynomite #59・60: A limited-release hazy IPA featuring a dense tropical fruit aroma. Another must-try if you’re into “Hazy IPAs in Seattle: local brewery guide.”
- Wolfess Stout: A creamy stout with notes of vanilla and cocoa.
- Spiced Cider: A spiced and warming apple cider.
- Hot Cider: A hot apple cider perfect for cold days.
A standard beer flight is $15, and you can choose a flight that includes limited releases starting at $20.
It feels a bit pricey, but it’s very nice that they serve it in glasses with the brewery logo! Sometimes you’ll even find local tap takeover events or beer festivals in Seattle that feature Fremont’s lineup.
In the limited flight, you can include Head Full of Dynomite, which is very popular in Japan, or even barrel-aged beers like Brew7000 if the timing is right.
Reviews of the beers I drank
Golden Pilsner is light, easy to drink, and refreshing. It perfectly represents the pilsner style. It was just right after walking uphill. If you’re “taproom hopping in Ballard: the ultimate guide,” don’t forget to swing by Fremont.
Hustle IPA is a classic IPA with a strong bitterness. It has an excellent balance of hop bitterness and sweetness. I did notice a slight green apple note, possibly from incomplete fermentation, but overall it’s a great hop-forward option.
Legend IPA is a rather light IPA. It’s dry, and the aroma spreads pleasantly the moment you swallow. It’s something I often experience with Fremont beers, which is great for a pub crawl or taproom hopping session.
Dark Star is an oatmeal stout with a dense chocolate flavor that fills your mouth. It offers a rich taste, perfect as a dessert. The thick mouthfeel from the oats supports the beer’s flavors very well, and it’s truly delicious. Check if they have barrel-aged versions for an extra special treat.
Head Full Of Dynomite v6.0 is a very modern Hazy IPA with restrained bitterness! It has a gentle mouthfeel, and as it warms, you can detect hints of peach. Rolling it around in your mouth reveals a candy-like sweetness. The malt ratio remains the same, but the oatmeal-derived texture stands out. Because of the smoothness from the oats, it takes a bit of time to fully appreciate the flavor, and depending on the beer, I sometimes find it a bit boring. However, with this one, there’s an abundance of hop aroma, so I don’t feel bored at all.
After you start to taste the peach, melon, and bitterness, there’s a slight alcohol note that resembles kiwi. Overall, bitterness is subtle, and it has a silky texture. If you focus on the aroma, you can enjoy hints of passion fruit and orange. As it warms, the alcohol becomes a bit more noticeable, but it’s very tasty.
Upon swallowing, there’s that characteristic Fremont dryness. The bright hop aroma lingers in your mouth, but there’s no lingering bitterness or unpleasant aftertaste at all. I think that’s the beauty of Fremont’s beers. They also do Growlers and Crowlers if you want to take some home.
Characteristics of Fremont Brewing’s flavors
Typical of the northern West Coast, it features a somewhat restrained body, aromatic intensity, and it’s not tiring to drink. Also, there’s no cloying aftertaste; it’s dry, and the flavor quickly dissipates on your tongue. However, the hop-derived aftertaste remains refreshingly in your mouth for a long time. Don’t miss out on “Pacific Northwest sour beers: must-try in Seattle” if you like more tart flavors!
The Appeal of Fremont Brewing’s Flavor
Fremont Brewing is a brewery that uses locally sourced ingredients from Washington to create innovative, high-quality craft beers. Their taproom in the heart of Seattle is bright, lively, and perfect for families or groups of friends.
In April 2024, Fremont Brewing was acquired by Seattle Hospitality Group (SHG), which had previously bought PIKE Brewing. There’s no noticeable change in flavor. From a business standpoint, they seem to be particularly focused on non-alcoholic beers. Fremont’s non-alcoholic beers have also won awards at world competitions and sell out quickly at supermarkets in Seattle.
Atmosphere of the Fremont Brewing Taproom
There’s a terrace area outside, and several indoor tables with a nice atmosphere. It’s a great place for taproom hopping if you’re also visiting nearby Ballard breweries or going on a pub crawl through Capitol Hill breweries.
The outdoor tables are heated by overhead electric heaters, so it’s comfortable even in winter.
Because the tables absorb the heat from the heaters, if you place your beer on the table without a coaster, it warms up quickly. This is fine when drinking darker beers, but if you’re having a pilsner or similar, I recommend sitting inside.
There’s a self-service water station near the entrance where you can help yourself to water with every drink. Remember to stay hydrated.
Here’s what it looks like indoors.
There’s also a register to the left when you enter, but it’s not in use. Head to the register on the right instead.
How to Order at Fremont Brewing
Line up at the register, select the beer you want and the size, and place your order. They accept touch payments with smartphones or cards by tapping on the iPad at the register. After tapping, you can choose from three tip amounts. The lowest amount is generally fine, but not tipping at all is considered rude. If you received special service or consideration, such as a tasting, consider tipping a bit more. If you don’t specify a size, you’ll generally get a pint. The English you need is simple. Non-native English speakers often aren’t understood perfectly, so focus on smiling and communicating your intention. It’s a fun part of the Seattle beer week experience if you visit multiple breweries.
They’ll check your ID first. I think being nervous about speaking English can make you appear younger. Even if you don’t catch what they say, just show them your passport.
They’ll ask, “Can I see your ID?” If you hear “ID,” just show them your passport.
Can I have a. This beer. While pointing to the beer, say this. If you’re ordering a tasting flight, say Beer Flight while also saying I‘d like to create my own flight. and point to the beers you want. Because English and Japanese differ in the number of vowels and consonants, it’s practically impossible to pronounce and distinguish them correctly without practice, so it’s natural for non-natives to struggle with proper beer name pronunciation. Use photos of the tap list, pointing, and plenty of clarifications to communicate.
It’s like how native English speakers can’t distinguish “obachan” from “obaachan” in Japanese.
I often take a picture of the tap list and, while pointing, say things like “Can I have this IPA, West Coast. Bitter one.” providing a somewhat redundant explanation.
How to Sample
You can sample beers at Fremont Brewing. After you’ve successfully placed your first order and have relaxed a bit, give it a try. May I try some sample of beers? and if they respond with “Sure,” you’re good to go. Make sure to pronounce “Try” and “Sample” slowly. This is a great way to decide if you want a certain seasonal release or limited edition brew.
Request it when you’re unsure which hop variety to choose, or if you’re wondering how this brewery’s dark beers compare to other styles. I decided which version of Head Full of Dynomite to order only after trying them side by side.
If you’re feeling brave, share your impressions. Order after tasting. If they let you sample, consider tipping a bit more.
Overview of Fremont Brewing
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Fremont Brewing |
| Location | Fremont District, Seattle, Washington, USA |
| Brewery Official Website | https://www.fremontbrewing.com |
| Review Sites | |
| Brewery Official Social Media | |
| Establishment Year | 2009 |
| Brewing Commitment | Using the highest quality local ingredients and as many organic materials as possible, pursuing sustainability for the environment, society, and economy. |
Location
Fremont Brewing Awards
| Category | Competition | Year | Beer Name | Award | Number of Entries | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber to Dark Non-Alcohol Beer | Great American Beer Festival | 2024 | NA Dark | Gold | 37 | URL |
| Specialty Non-Alcohol Beer | Washington Beer Awards | 2024 | NA IPA | Silver | No information | URL |
| Wood & Barrel Aged Strong Beer | Washington Beer Awards | 2023 | 2022 BBOMB | Gold | No information | URL |
| Wood & Barrel Aged Strong Beer | Washington Beer Awards | 2023 | Brew 7000 | Silver | No information | URL |
Check here for more craft beer info in Seattle!
List of Craft Beer Information in Seattle. Sometimes you’ll even see big beer festivals in Seattle or Seattle beer week events featuring Fremont Brewing. If you prefer sour styles, “Pacific Northwest sour beers: must-try in Seattle” is another search worth checking out.
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